Burbank Leader

GLENDALE — Gordon Tomaske, publisher of the Glendale News-Press, Burbank Leader, La Canada Valley Sun and Crescenta Valley Sun, has been promoted to director of operations for the Los Angeles Times’ Targeted Media Division little more than a year after he took over in March 2007 as the third publisher in as many years. The Targeted Media Division oversees Times Community News, of which the News-Press is a part. Together with its sister publications, the Burbank Leader, La Canada Valley Sun and Crescenta Valley Sun, the News-Press will be placed under the more direct purview of Times Community News General Manager Tom Johnson, who is based in Costa Mesa.

L ast week, we launched a redesign of the Burbank Leader's website. It was a "soft launch," meaning we didn't make a big deal about it. This is not because we're not happy with the results; the opposite is true. I'm extremely proud of what we've done. The new site truly combines the power of the print and online editions: similar to the paper itself in look and feel, but with all the speed and flexibility of online. I want to recognize Web Editor Jamie Wetherbe, who has done a tremendous job leading this project.

Tim Willert, an award-winning writer and reporter, has been named city editor of the Burbank Leader. Willert began work in his new position Monday. He succeeds Amber Willard, who was promoted to city editor of the Leader's sister paper, the News-Press in Glendale. Willert, 42, started at the News-Press in March 2000, and was the paper's education reporter, business and politics reporter, City Hall reporter and, most recently, enterprise reporter.

Can't we all get along? I have to commend Don Elsmore, Ron Vanderford, Stan Hyman, and now, Mike Nowak, from Glendale, for having extensive background information about the airport issue. They quote it freely. But, invariably, it is used against the airport. Can't they say anything positive about a form of transportation that brings business, jobs and revenue to the city? It is an integral part of the community. Is there something wrong with two sides (the city of Burbank and the airport)

BURBANK -- Burbank Leader Editor Timothy Hughes has accepted a job on the city desk at the Ventura County Edition of The Los Angeles Times. His last day at the Leader will be Feb. 18. In his place, the Leader has promoted Managing Editor John Francis to editor. Times Community News Senior Editor Michael Hart will work out of the Glendale News-Press office in an oversight role for Times Community News' North Los Angeles County region, which includes the Glendale News-Press, the Burbank Leader, the Foothill Leader, the Pasadena Weekly and the San Gabriel Weekly.

"I want to talk to you about the design change," the caller, a woman, said in a phone message left on the editor's voice mail one day last week. "I love the Burbank Leader, I read it all the time, and one of the things I like the most is the Community Forum page," she continued. "But you've cut out letters ever since the redesign. That, I don't like." We appreciate that call, and the handful of others we've gotten the past week about how letters apparently have been excised from the Leader due to the paper's new look, which took hold about a month ago. It's always a good thing when readers let us know what they think, good or bad, about the paper.

Unlike previous elections, the Burbank Leader will not be making endorsements in any races for the Nov. 7 election. However, we will endorse in upcoming local races, including the upcoming City Council race. With the Los Angeles Times endorsing in state and national races, the Leader will not take positions on the candidates. The decision was made not to interview our local candidates to avoid any conflicts. The Leader has remained committed to following the issues and people through our news coverage.

A disappointing no-show at camp I am shocked the Burbank Leader chose to ignore Showcamp this summer. Yes, I heard you chose to not cover the summer camp and the performance because you did a piece sometime last December on the Showcamp holiday performance (skipping the spring performance entirely, I might add). One picture and a blurb don't begin to cover the fact that Showcamp is the Granddaddy of performing arts camps in Burbank. You have done a nice job covering the one-week art and theater camps with 12 or so children.

Send DATEBOOK items to the Burbank Leader, 111 W. Wilson Ave., Suite 200, Glendale, CA 91203 or fax to (818) 241-1975. Submissions must be received two weeks before publication. THURSDAY Downtown Burbank free dance concert beginning with salsa lessons by Francisco and Stacey Martinez at 6 p.m. and concert at 7 p.m. featuring Louie Cruz Beltran & His Latin Orchestra in the AMC Walkway, San Fernando Boulevard and Palm Avenue in Burbank. Information: (818)